by Carol Gioia

Created on: September 12, 2008

Kids these days are not so different from their predecessors; they just live in a very different world.

The challenges facing the youth of today would boggle the minds of most adults. School is no longer an educational refuge. Beginning in middle school the necessity for security officers on the scene, metal detectors, lockdowns, drug searches and bomb threats make what should be an innocent daily exercise, "going to school," a precarious and dangerous endeavor. Bullying and zero tolerance are concepts our children understand and navigate every day.

With the inception of the "computer age," our technologically advanced progeny are prone to being victimized by sexual predators, cyber bullies and con artists. Their safety is compromised and in jeopardy on every front. They are exposed to more temptations with sex, drugs and alcohol than previous generations could even fathom.

Kids these days are living in forced independence and required to grow up too fast due to high divorce rates and one parent households. The offshoot of the chaotic state of our society is increased teenage suicides, pregnancies, anger, depression and childhood obesity. These societal aberrations have always existed for our youth, but what used to be private family business is now fodder for the press and teenage humiliation and angst is played out in the media and over the internet.

Despite the lack of privacy and negative challenges facing them, most kids these days are actually maturing at a faster rate and accepting adult responsibilities at a younger age with unabashed aplomb.

Committment to community service is a popular attribute in kids these days. They are more savvy about their world and motivated to keep it intact for their own future and the future of their children. "Going green" is more than popular lip service to kids these days. Saving the planet is a bona fide goal and they approach the subject with energy and optimism.

Kids these day know they will need to be educated to compete and they worry about how they will afford to go to college. They attempt to excel at academics and sports in hopes of garnering scholarships through their efforts. Many kids these days work after school to support their extracurricular activities and expenses. They expect to pay for their own gas and insurance if they are fortunate enough to obtain a vehicle when they are eligible to drive. The handful of irresponsible joy riders are not representative of average kids these days.

Tolerance is a worthy attribute on display with many of today's youth. They demonstrate empathy for those less fortunate, for the disabled and for the elderly. Contrary to negative publicity, the majority of kids these days have raised awareness and are mannerly and respectful of the rights of others.

Kids these days want to be judged for their behavior, not for their outward appearance. They like to display their individuality in dress and music. They will do outlandish things with their hair, piercing and tattoos. Kids these day will test the limits of parental patience, but inwardly crave a standard code of behavior to adhere to and live by.

Instead of dwelling on the negatives and what is wrong, we could do our youth a favor by being supportive, understanding and acknowledging the difficulties they face in our stressful society. By emphasizing the positives and recognizing their accomplishments, we can take great pride in what is right with our youth.

Nuturing attention, enduring respect and unconditional love are what is needed and wanted by kids these days.

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